Irish vs UK IRRs: A Comparison
Jess Heaps has worked as a radiation protection professional at Rolls-Royce Submarines and in the consultancy sector. She holds RPA, IRadP and DGSA certifications and is working towards Chartered status.
Ionising radiation legislation in both the Republic of Ireland( ROI) and the United Kingdom( UK) implements the Euratom Basic Safety Standards Directive( BSSD)( 2013 / 53 / EURATOM), which incorporates ICRP recommendations. Whilst the UK has separate regimes governing different regulatory aspects, the ROI implemented most BSSD requirements through a single piece of legislation, the Radiological Protection Act 1991( Ionising Radiation) Regulations 2019( IRR19), enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency( EPA). Occupational exposure in England, Scotland and Wales is regulated under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017( IRR17), which are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive( HSE) on non-nuclear sites or the Office for Nuclear Regulation( ONR) on nuclear premises and for the civil transport of radioactive materials. In Northern Ireland, which maintains alignment with EU legislation following Brexit, occupational exposure is governed by the Ionising Radiations( Northern Ireland) Regulations 2017( IRR( NI) 17), enforced by the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland( HSENI).
Key Similarities:
• Both ROI ' s IRR19 and the UK ' s IRR17 share the same fundamental principles: emphasising worker protection, risk assessment, exposure monitoring, and the appointment of Radiation Protection Advisers( RPAs)
• Legal dose limits for individuals and the requirements for pregnant and breastfeeding workers are consistent across both legislations
• Both countries follow a graded approach to authorisation, ensuring a structured regulatory process
Notable Differences:
• Regulatory Complexity: The UK ' s legislative framework is more complex, comprising multiple pieces of legislation such as the Radioactive Substances
Leinster House, the Government buildings in Dublin
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